State of the Sox: My Analysis of the Boston Red Sox All-Stars

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

First of all, I would like to give a stat comparison between Pedroia and two other second basemen of his caliber (Ian Kinsler and Aaron Hill)

               HR    RBI      BA     SLG%     Runs

Pedroia      3      39      .290   .393        59

Kinsler       19    51      .256   .500        57

Hill            20    59     .299    .503        50

Now tell me, does Dustin Pedroia look like an All-Star? No he does not, because this was a simple result of a popularity contest. Aaron Hill and Ian Kinsler should have been going for the starting position and Pedroia should have tried to get in on the final poll. What about Robinson Cano? He has had some All-Star caliber numbers this season.

Dustin is certainly a great player, but he is nowhere near as good as he was last season, especially from an offensive standpoint compared to these two men. I really disagree with this decision and I find it sad for the rest of baseball to see Kinsler fighting for a spot that he deserves and Aaron Hill taking the backseat to Pedroia.

I know this is just the All-Star Game, but even a Sox fan should admit that more players are more suitable for the job than Dustin should not be starting, but that is the beauty of the All Star balloting.

Kevin Youkilis

Youk is certainly deserving of the spot with his MVP season as of late, but my question is over this who debate on Youkilis or Teixeira. I put together another chart comparing the two

              HR    RBI      BA     SLG%     Runs           

Youkilis     14    47      .301    .569      49

Teixeira    20     61      .278   .555      52

Now you have to remember that Kevin Youkilis did miss some time this season and he still has a more solid batting average and a slightly better slugging percentage than Teixeira. I do think that Youkilis was the better man to start, but there is someone that everyone has forgotten.

A name that should be starting this game and would have won by a landslide if he were on Boston or New York...Justin Morneau. Let us look at his stats so far and compare them to the other two men. 

              HR    RBI      BA     SLG%     Runs  

Morneau   21    69     .323     .601       56

Youkilis     14    47      .301    .569      49

Teixeira    20     61      .278   .555      52

Now who really deserves to start? There is no question that Youkilis should be in the game and I now believe that he should not start, but neither should Teixeira. Justin Morneau is the obvious choice for starter in this tight race.

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